HER5K Purple Bucket Run Raises Awareness for Women’s Pregnancy Health

The HER Foundation recently announced their upcoming Purple Bucket Run, a 5K run/walk, and 1-mile fun run scheduled for May 20th at the popular Diversey Harbor in Chicago, IL. Following a warm-up by Nike trainer and Guru of Abs, DaShaun Johnson, the 5K race will start at 9 am. The HER Foundation raises awareness for a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease called, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) that leads to the loss of 1,000’s of babies each year. Many had never heard of HG, which causes severe dehydration in malnutrition until Princess Kate Middleton and singer Kelly Clarkson were diagnosed with the condition during their pregnancies.

Kimber MacGibbon, Executive Director of the HER Foundation said, “The HER5K is an opportunity for HG survivors to come together as sisters battling this horrible complication of pregnancy and raise awareness among the general public. Sadly, due to limited medical understanding and research, HG women feel they have no other option than to terminate their pregnancy or not have more children, especially given the very high recurrence of HG in subsequent pregnancies.”

All proceeds benefit HER Foundation and USC/UCLA joint research and education. To date, this team has published over two dozen HG studies in peer-reviewed medical journals, including many firsts such as documenting the high termination rates, the adverse effects on mothers and children, and genetic links. Funding will enable the non-profit to help more mothers and babies around the world survive HG, which is debilitating and traumatic and associated with premature birth or death in about 33% of babies. Some experience severe weight loss due to lack of medical intervention and then have children with future health risks, neurodevelopmental delays, sensory processing disorders, and other emotional and behavioral challenges. However, HG cannot be treated if women are unaware of the symptoms, receive uncompassionate support at work and home, and cannot find a doctor knowledgeable about appropriate management. HER is changing that as the #1 organization in the world for Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) awareness, advocacy, support and research

MacGibbon continued, “What we need is more women speaking out about their battle with HG and how it changed their lives forever. With HG, the body rejects essential fluids and nutrition, with constant nausea and vomiting that can lead to organ rupture, blindness, and brain damage. The effects last longer than 9 months, with more than half of women experiencing trauma and numerous health repercussions postpartum. Many families are financially devastated as well due to job loss and medical bills. HG women report the emotional and physical scars last forever.”

The HER Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission to provide education and support to those seeking effective management strategies for Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) -- a debilitating pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration and severe, unrelenting nausea/vomiting. Founded in 2003 by fellow HG survivors Kimber MacGibbon, RN, and Ann Marie King and her husband Jeremy, the foundation serves as a support network and global voice for HG sufferers and their families. http://www.HelpHER.org is the leading source of HG information. Many thousands receive personal assistance from HER Foundation volunteers and directors. Through its educational outreach, support network, and collaboration with health professionals, the HER Foundation works to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of HG, and the lasting impact it has on pregnant women and the children who survive.